There's no cheap way to set up a saltwater tank. Sure, there are plenty of ways to save money, but unless you're gifted the perfect set-up, setting up a safe, habitable, environment for saltwater critters is going to take some money.
There are the basics -- tank, powerhead, lights, salt, refractometer, testing kits. Then all the other stuff that most of us use -- sump, return pump, skimmer, etc. Then there are lots of other things that we don't necessarily factor into our initial build, that we find ourselves acquiring very fast --- sometimes even running out to the store several times for (plumbing components, I'm looking at you!!).
Along with all that stuff for a new build, there are a bunch of not-so obvious supplies that you need pretty much from day 1.
Quarantine Equipment -- just expect to spend $150 on this. Just do. Assume you might want to do Tank Transfer, or QT something separately from others stuff.
2 small tanks (10-20 gallons). $20-$40 with the Petco sale or used.
2 small heaters. $40-$60 for both. Even the cheap ones aren't that cheap.
2 small powerheads. $40 for both. You can use airstones, but I recommend powerheads to get a low flow going. Many fish won't eat unless the food stays suspended for a while, and you get nice oxygen exchange with a powerhead. Plus, now you have 2 extra powerheads to use in case of emergency elsewhere, provided you never use meds in your QT and thoroughly clean and dry the poweheads after use.
You also need a few pieces of PVC elbows... most of us have them lying around, but if not you can buy 4 for under $5.
Mixing Equipment
Aside from the obvious RODI water, salt, and a big container to mix in, you need:
a powerhead. $20
a decently powered heater. $30
Misc other things
Buckets. At least half a dozen 5 gallon buckets. $15
Bucket tip -- I recommend getting buckets in 2 different colors (real easy in the US if you have access to the two big box stores!). One color will be the "clean" buckets, and the other color the "dirty" buckets. Clean buckets only get fresh RODI water for top-off and new salt water. Dirty buckets get all the water that you never want mixing with your main tank -- water you drain from QT tanks, water from the fish store that you acclimate in (remember never acclimate shipped fish this way, temp match, salinity match, and get them out of that bag!!), water for coral dips, etc. I use the dirty buckets for water changes from the DT too, but obviously there it doesn't matter so much which buckets you use because you're not concerned about cross-contamination.
The TLDR message is buy lots of heaters, powerheads, and buckets and your life will be easy. Anyone else want to add to this?
There are the basics -- tank, powerhead, lights, salt, refractometer, testing kits. Then all the other stuff that most of us use -- sump, return pump, skimmer, etc. Then there are lots of other things that we don't necessarily factor into our initial build, that we find ourselves acquiring very fast --- sometimes even running out to the store several times for (plumbing components, I'm looking at you!!).
Along with all that stuff for a new build, there are a bunch of not-so obvious supplies that you need pretty much from day 1.
Quarantine Equipment -- just expect to spend $150 on this. Just do. Assume you might want to do Tank Transfer, or QT something separately from others stuff.
2 small tanks (10-20 gallons). $20-$40 with the Petco sale or used.
2 small heaters. $40-$60 for both. Even the cheap ones aren't that cheap.
2 small powerheads. $40 for both. You can use airstones, but I recommend powerheads to get a low flow going. Many fish won't eat unless the food stays suspended for a while, and you get nice oxygen exchange with a powerhead. Plus, now you have 2 extra powerheads to use in case of emergency elsewhere, provided you never use meds in your QT and thoroughly clean and dry the poweheads after use.
You also need a few pieces of PVC elbows... most of us have them lying around, but if not you can buy 4 for under $5.
Mixing Equipment
Aside from the obvious RODI water, salt, and a big container to mix in, you need:
a powerhead. $20
a decently powered heater. $30
Misc other things
Buckets. At least half a dozen 5 gallon buckets. $15
Bucket tip -- I recommend getting buckets in 2 different colors (real easy in the US if you have access to the two big box stores!). One color will be the "clean" buckets, and the other color the "dirty" buckets. Clean buckets only get fresh RODI water for top-off and new salt water. Dirty buckets get all the water that you never want mixing with your main tank -- water you drain from QT tanks, water from the fish store that you acclimate in (remember never acclimate shipped fish this way, temp match, salinity match, and get them out of that bag!!), water for coral dips, etc. I use the dirty buckets for water changes from the DT too, but obviously there it doesn't matter so much which buckets you use because you're not concerned about cross-contamination.
The TLDR message is buy lots of heaters, powerheads, and buckets and your life will be easy. Anyone else want to add to this?
